Escape The Religion Industry

Read more of Garry Greenwood’s true life religious adventures as a once-top-level religious leader himself in his controversial and informative e-book ALL THE EMPEROR’S MEN This link also leads to several of Greenwood’s other published articles dealing with his personal involvement as a religious leader with religions gone wrong. Read tales of Jesus in Japan, Cults of Gold, Tesla weapons, the whereabouts of the Ark of the Covenant, convicted Japanese war criminals and the coming armageddon and more. It may help you fill that void so often filled with religion. This may also be your chance to finally escape religion.

What if I’ve turned my back on all religions yet I am still very much open to the possibility of such phenomena as, life after death, spirits, reincarnation and that there’s a cosmic intelligence responsible for life as we know it (or don’t know it) plus more? I sometimes wonder what category should I belong to?

I’ve always thought that these are important issues and that we should all ponder from time to time as, let’s face it, life is important. I have always loved to consider such meaningful topics – where was I before I was born? What was I doing there and what, if anything, will I be doing when I die? I’m sure many people entertain these or similar thoughts at various times throughout their lives, too.

Sadly, for many of us, these and other critical thoughts and questions were hijacked eons ago, and still are today, by the ever-pervasive religion industry. Just as all human needs are serviced or filled by someone with the desired product or service, so too, the religion industry fulfills that same role. You could say it’s all a matter of supply and demand and it’s that demand that I wish to also focus on in my ‘Escape the Religion Industry’ essay. We are all aware that, for various reasons (mainly supply and demand), new industries come into existence whilst older or outdated ones eventually die out. This raises the question: when, if ever, will religions also cease to exist?

My view is that if there is no evidence for it, then forget about it.

An agnostic is somebody who doesn’t believe in something until there is evidence for it, so I’m agnostic.
-Carl Sagan, American astronomer and author

Since religions are currently fulfilling the needs of their adherents how would their demise come about? This a difficult question to answer simply, but by sharing my religious and spiritual experiences accumulated over many decades often as a religious leader myself, I hope I can add a little to this growing debate. I am not alone in this new quest – or perhaps you could call it a new kind of service industry, too, as nowadays any internet search will reveal a whole plethora of websites and forums dedicated to the same cause of urging religion followers to WAKE UP and take back control and responsibility for their own beliefs and actions.

I make no claims at being a religious scholar, but I speak with a certain degree of authority since I was once a high-ranking religious leader for around fifteen years as you will discover further on in this essay.

If we believe absurdities, we shall commit atrocities.

Voltaire, French author and playwright (1694-1778)

HOW I CHANGED FROM A HAPPY AND CONTENTED PERSON TO A FIREBRANT

RELIGIOUS ZEALOT AND THEN BACK AGAIN

I was brought up in Central Queensland, Australia, to be a happy, active and well-adjusted person. I loved nature and spent much of my spare time out in it often camping or taking long rides alone on my pet pony far out onto the vast grassy plains which surrounded my home. I felt free both physically and in my thoughts – and naturally assumed that this was how life was meant to be.

This idyllic way of being quickly began to fall apart when my mother was suddenly admitted to hospital for an emergency life saving operation. Her doctor, who was a devout catholic, convinced her at this most critical moment to convert to catholicism because he was of the opinion that this would enhance her chances of survival. My desperately ill mother agreed that if she did survive the operation she would comply and also have all the family convert, too. Mum survived, and it wasn’t long before I found myself religiously attending mass every Sunday – it was a mortal sin to miss Sunday mass and, as we were taught, mortal sinners were destined for the everlasting fires of hell, so what choice did I have but to comply. I am now of the opinion that any clergyman who preaches eternal damnation to a child is guilty of child abuse and should be prosecuted accordingly.

My Saturdays were now disrupted with special catechism or catholic dogma lessons and every Sunday, without fail, were of course disrupted by mass. I was quickly dispatched to a strict catholic school wherein, in those days (the 60’s), my mind was inculcated with a myriad of complex do’s and don’ts and their relevant fearful consequences for non-compliance.

I was soon stripped of my innocence and became preoccupied in avoiding, at any cost, the pitfalls leading to eternal damnation – and believe me, there were many. An ‘us versus them’ mentally began to overshadow anyone and everyone I knew or met.

Within six months of my forced conversion I was a transformed person. I was still only around twelve years old at this stage and no longer was I prone to let my inquisitive mind ponder deep and meaningful-to-me, concepts important for a fruitful life. I now had to accept the church’s view. There was no room for questioning and a form of inquisitive atrophy set in. I was told how the pope’s words were infallible – don’t think for yourself and keep studying the bible and the other prescribed texts. Any form of sex or sexual thoughts or feelings will lead to eternal damnation. I was already dammed then. Be pure and chaste like the clergy – I was taught. Nowadays, we discover how so many catholic and other clergy are being exposed as child molesters or pedophiles. To make matters worse many of these predators have been protected by their superiors and some have sought asylum in the vatican where they are hoping to be protected from prosecution or extradition. In my mind this also raises questions about the degree of complicity of any practising catholics who knowingly and willingly support the catholic industry knowing full well that this is an industry which protects and continues to give sanctuary to such criminals. Exactly where does the guilt and complicity end?

If people are good only because they fear punishment, and hope for a reward, then we are a sorry lot indeed.
-Albert Einstein, German-born American physicist

Now, several decades later and in the autumn of my life, and back in my own mind again, I look back upon the sad absurdity of my situation then and it still makes my blood boil knowing that nothing much has changed in this industry – the catholic church being just one of the many service companies within the religion industry. Looking back, I cannot imagine how I surrendered myself to such a power, to such an un-proven and un-scientific ideology. I cannot believe how quickly I gave away my desire to ponder and mull over, what I thought at the time, the big questions of human existence. Such contemplation had once been important to me. Sadly, having now lost this ability and to simply accept whatever I was told, the seeds had been sown for what was about to come.

Unlike most religion followers, I was converted to religion: catholicism, something that most people never do. For most people it’s so simple – if you were born a jew, a muslim or a christian you simply adopted, without question, the religion into which, and by pure chance, or by default, you were born into. What’s startling is that although one’s religion was chosen simply by default people will then go on to claim it to be the most superior of all, and by natural extension come to see themselves as more special or more chosen than those of the other inferior religions – such is the power of geography in the destiny of humanity. Even without studying or experiencing other religions, for some, their default religion will be defended even to the point of their death or, more unfortunately, the deaths of others. Unbelievable!

You never see animals going through the absurd and often horrible fooleries of magic and religion.

Only man behaves with such gratuitous folly.

It is the price he has to pay for being intelligent but not, as yet, intelligent enough.
Alex Haley, author “Roots”

It reminds me a bit like product or company loyalty in the world of commerce – once a Ford automobile family, always a Ford family irrespective of the quality of competitors. I prefer to eat whole meal bread whilst many insist on refined white bread. It’s really that simple – and scary.

I must confess that I never did make a good catholic as my peers and teachers would have liked, instead I seemed more preoccupied in dodging the pitfalls which would have had me dispatched to the eternal flames. As I grew older and after a decade of no contact with the religion my mind and thoughts slowly returned to what I would consider a reasonable state of equilibrium. Slowly, I began to create my own opinions again and I even flirted with the popular new age industry of the 70’s and even studied much of their literature.

Like many people today I felt that there was a void or vacuum in my life – but what should I fill it with?

Religion is a byproduct of fear. For much of human history, it may have been a necessary evil,

but why was it more evil than necessary? Isn’t killing people in the name of God a pretty good definition of insanity?

Arthur C. Clarke, author

NOTHING COULD HAVE SAVED ME FROM WHAT WAS TO HAPPEN NEXT

I’ll never forget that fateful day I went to a new age festival held just out of town. I was mainly interested in just experiencing all the commotion, sights, sounds and exotic smells. Here, I chanced upon a very charismatic and highly educated medical researcher from one of Australia’s top universities. He had just returned from Japan wherein he had spent the past two years on a government research grant studying the inner-most functioning of the human brain. He was giving a lecture and I stopped to listen in. His credentials, degrees, charisma and sincerity were impeccable and I was interested in what he was saying. He claimed to have answers to many of my life’s questions. He even represented a new Japanese group intent on spreading this message and accompanying therapies. Thirsty for answers, I eventually joined his group and immediately felt a wonderful feeling of belonging. Finally, I had found a group of like-minded truth seekers and so I began to attend all their seminars and other activities.

My new-found charismatic leader soon became a good friend and before long I smoothly slotted into the role of second-in-command of this rapidly growing movement. Before long I too was traveling extensively throughout the Asia-Pacific region conducting seminars teaching the new-found oriental truths so eagerly accepted in the 70’s. For many years I traveled throughout Australia, where I live, New Zealand, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, New Guinea, the Philippines, and more. I was truly run off my feet keeping up with demand creating our new Empire of the Sun. I even spent one year straight in the forests of Malaysia on the island of Borneo creating a regional headquarters as membership in this area was now in the thousands. It was here that I earned the title of White Witch Doctor. And what a Witch Doctor I was to become as I delved deep into a mysterious world of spirits, spirit possession and omens.

Lighthouses are more helpful then churches.
-Benjamin Franklin, American Founding Father, author, and inventor

Our group’s dogma or product was a compilation of teachings on life after death, reincarnation, spirits, spirit possession, the coming Armageddon and the superiority of our product over all others. This was absolute and we were the Chosen Ones – the new and improved levites. We had the whole truth and only we would be saved.

In all my misguided fervor I was too blind to see the same parallel absurdities that I was once forced to take on board as a member of the catholic industry. Like all companies cash was always in demand and we needed plenty to expand our golden empire and here our members happily complied.

As my position and responsibility consolidated within the company I gradually became privy to their innermost trade secrets during specially arranged visits to the fatherland – Japan – the home of the gods. Here, amongst many things, I learnt how the Japanese emperor was a divine being and was destined to rule the world as in ancient times and how he had tried unsuccessfully to achieve global supremacy during the second world war. I was also introduced to many of the company’s top brass and discovered how many of them were once high-ranking military officers. I also learnt how Jesus had lived out his final years in Japan after escaping the crucifixion. They even took me to his grave in far northern Japan. They showed me references to his escaping crucifixion in the Koran which explains why muslims don’t believe Jesus died on the cross. How these two major religion industries, islam and christianity, could ever hope to find any common ground or compatibility is beyond me. It wasn’t just Jesus who found his final resting place in the land of the gods, but according to secret burial mound photos that I was shown, so too did Moses and Buddha as it was in this sacred land that the long-sought-after ark of the covenant was secreted away and is now in the possession of the emperor of Japan.

I condemn false prophets, I condemn the effort to take away the power of rational decision,

to drain people of their free will–and a hell of a lot of money in the bargain.
Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek (1921-1991)

I guess by now you could be excused for thinking ‘why did I believe this dangerous ultra-nationalism or superstition and didn’t abandon this group and simply run away’?

Well, it’s not that simple. If you check out some the aforementioned links you will discover that much of this superstition is not just some of the beliefs of my group but are the current widespread beliefs of many Japanese people based upon old myths. I wasn’t exposed to these trade secrets till after I had been a member for several years – till it was safe to do so – till I was so brainwashed that I was prepared to believe and do anything. Underpinning these beliefs was the constant fear of failure. If I were to fail in guiding my group correctly to fulfill its mission of creating a global theocracy – global peace, we would all be banished to hell forever (sounds familiar). If anyone was to question any of the dogma it was a sign that they were possessed by evil spirits as this invisible ghoulish army was opposed to our glorious mission. The fate of humanity rested on our shoulders – and more so on mine.

Besides, this was now my well-paying elitist job. I was partly responsible for the nurturing and guidance of thousands of members in the Australasian region. It was now who I was, and it had taken fifteen years of hard work during the most productive years of my life. My void had long-since been filled and to suddenly negate everything was to negate myself.

How would you feel if you had been a faithful Ford person all your life and suddenly and it was revealed that Ford cars were crap after all and that the company was closing down? You would be very disappointed to say the least. It is for this reason that my essay is aimed more so at the young before the religion addiction has had time to take a firm hold.

Faith means not wanting to know what is true.

Friedrich Nietzsche, German philologist and philosopher (1844-1900)

The process of indoctrination or brainwashing was more of a slow drip feed over many years, which in turn, I passed onto members of the group. Superimposed upon everything we did was the ever-present mission to save as many people as we could and prepare them as seed people for the coming Armageddon. The seed people would then start a new world order – a new theocracy. In all my fervor I never thought to question who would rule over this theocracy until it was too late as we were discouraged from asking any questions as we had been taught questioning was a sure sign of spirit possession.

My aforementioned experiences within this group are presented only briefly here as this essay is not meant to focus in-depth on any particular religion company, including mine. Instead, I hope to encourage readers to see how religion companies operate in expanding their numbers and maintaining allegiance irrespective of how absurd, superstitious or dangerous their beliefs may be by presenting my firsthand experiences. For my total experience plus more please obtain a copy of my e-book ALL THE EMPEROR’S MEN

Without being aware of my warped thoughts and deeds I became a company henchman, mullah, and firebrand preacher. I was convinced I was right – the company had convinced me that the world needed saving, that only we had possession of these new oriental esoteric truths and we needed to sell this message, or product, to the world – and we did. Branches were set up throughout our region whilst other regions did the same elsewhere. Globally there were around a million members in its heyday. Our clients included politicians, doctors, lawyers, teachers and even a few clergy from other religion companies. We were an elitist company and we concentrated on quality thereby qualifying ours as the most supreme of all – similar to what all religion companies believe. We were well and truly in the race to see who could be the most arrogant of all.

So, by now, you might be asking again how did I escape this guilt-ridden, fear-based madness? Well, I’m gradually getting to that by sharing with you the depth of my involvement or degree of brainwashing. It took years to become what I became so please bare with me a little longer as I explain further whilst keeping in mind that these experiences are similar to what all religion industries offer, only that their dogmas will vary. I also hope it helps you understand, at a deeper level, what goes on in the minds of the clergy irrespective of the company they represent.

I know now how crazy it all was, but let’s have a brief look at some of the equally weird, unproven, un-scientific and superstitious beliefs of some of the common religion companies. Please keep in mind that I do have some experience of the catholic company. Remember, I was once forced to become a member in my childhood and how I morphed from an easy-going, happy, naturally inquisitive religion-free child to one racked with a great fear of eternal damnation, a fear of god and an arrogance towards non-catholics.

Even as a reluctant catholic I eventually became to believe in the following: the infallibility of the pope, Jesus was born as a result of an immaculate conception, he could walk on water, turn water into wine, make dead people come back to life, died on a cross and came back to life three days later plus so much more. Some are believing that all of creation as we know it occurred a mere 6,000 years ago! In my opinion these people would be better served by joining the Flat Earth Society.

I was taught that I was a sinful unworthy person destined for eternal damnation but for Jesus dying on a cross and taking upon himself all my sins instead – I could go on but you may be understanding my point. But if you need more ponder a moment upon the absurd and arrogant belief that only catholics have the true faith. This is something common to all religion companies. Even in the afterlife they would all keep us apart by dividing cemeteries into the various religions and denominations. If you don’t believe your religion company to be the best – the one specially chosen by god for you as being the absolute, then why didn’t you change to another? The reality is that very few people do. Some religion companies prohibit changing or joining new ones – try becoming a jew, for example. Males should be aware that a prerequisite for membership requires having your penis mutilated as other religions do. Try leaving islam. Be careful as you could be murdered as the link clearly warns.

I am left wondering what kind of god, whom I was taught made humans perfect in his image, would suddenly require his male subjects to chop some flesh off the end of their penis’. And this is a god that prefers the circumcision to be performed whilst still an infant or very young boys unable to make any informed decisions about the fate of their foreskins. How is this religion custom allowable in the eyes of any law? And what are the origins of this wide-spread practice? Below you will begin to see how it has its genesis in the ancient, unproven and convenient Abrahamic covenants.

The Christian faith from the beginning, is sacrifice: the sacrifice of all freedom,

all pride, all self-confidence of spirit; it is at the same time subjection,

a self-derision, and self-mutilation.

Friedrich Nietzsche, German philologist and philosopher (1844-1900)

It all goes back to a point I made earlier that it’s all a simple matter of conditioning. A republican family will always be republican, a capitalist society will always be capitalist and likewise a socialist society will always remain so, with the default factor being the major player. What this also means is that all our thinking regarding the major fundamentals of our existence have all been carefully thought out for us. There is no need to ponder the un-ponderables. All you have to do is follow and keep away from the competitors. Just leave all this important stuff to those who profess to know better. How absurd. How stupid. How lazy and dangerous. Just look at how this ignorant and arrogant form of mass population control is disturbing and threatening both regional and global peace all in the name of their gods, yahwehs, jehovahs or allahs.

I feel I speak with a certain degree of authority having lived as both a non-religious person and a religion company leader when I say I can so easily see the danger and underlying absurdity of this industry. It serves humankind no good.

Now let me return to the question of how I managed to take back control of my thoughts, beliefs and life after almost fifteen years as a top-ranking religion company leader. You may remember some of the beliefs I had taken onboard were equally as absurd, unscientific, dangerous and just plain stupid as those you will find in almost any religion company. Regardless of the efforts of my family and fiends to make me see reason I refused to listen. I was one of god’s chosen ones. I was entrusted with the highest truths, and that was absolute. I was even afforded special protection like all our members so as we could perform our sacred duties of saving the world. Who, in their right mind, would want to give all that up? How arrogant, dangerous – and common to all religion companies.

Religions vary in their degree of idiocy, but I reject them all. For most people,

religion is nothing more than a substitute for a malfunctioning brain.

Gene Roddenberry, Creator of Star Trek (1921-1991)

HOW I ESCAPED THE RELIGION INDUSTRY

For the second time in just a few years another car carrying five of our most promising and protected seed people had all been killed instantly in an horrific accident after leaving our center. That now made it a total of ten killed in similar accidents on their way home in just a few short years. Again the police asked me to help identify the bodies and as I struggled to figure out who was who I found myself wondering exactly what kind of god I was serving, for weren’t we all its chosen ones as promised by our guru? I couldn’t help notice the blood-smeared sacred prayer books as I struggled to determine whose prayer books belonged to who. It was awful and still I can hardly bring myself to recount the events for you here.

A crack had begun to form in my arrogant armor plating and I now struggled to contain it. I decided to take some time off to mourn and reflect upon the whole tragic event. During this time I decided to travel back to Japan, the source, and a country I had come to love. By chance, whilst there alone, I encountered kind people who seemed eager to share a very different view of my group and its origins. Through a series of meetings with both ex-members and others I was presented with documentary evidence showing that my guru was a high-ranking militarist during the Second World War and played an instrumental role in the infamous Rape of Nanjing in Chinawherein 30,000 women were systematically raped then murdered and 300,000 surrendered Chinese troops murdered. I also learned that he was a personal friend of the Japanese emperor’s brother. He was his class mate at the elitist military academy wherein my guru also became a military instructor. He also became Emperor Hirohito’s personal bodyguard. He also owned a military aircraft factory.

It seems that most of the group’s top-brass were classmates at the same military academy, and one in particular, Mr Kiyoharu Tomomori, my guru’s personal advisor, life-long friend, founding member, second in command and confidante was a convicted war criminal. He earned his death sentence for his personal involvement in the torture and beheading of 33 air crew of downed U.S. aircraft. This was several days after Japan had surrendered to the U.S. This mass murderer later managed a re-trial and received a life sentence, but like all convicted Japanese war criminals was set free in 1958. I met him on a few occasions.

I also learned how, at the military academy at that time, recruits studied the notorious manuscript ‘The Protocols of The Elders of Zion’ – a supposedly jewish manuscript detailing a cunning blueprint for jewish world domination. And finally to my even greater horror, after studying this vile manuscript myself, I realized that our most sacred texts, said to be the word of god, contained many passages distilled from the ‘Protocols of Zion’. Some sections of this manuscript had even been lifted word for word into our divine texts. Another notorious world figure who once did this was Adolf Hitler when he wrote his Nazi bible – Mein Kampf.

In many instances they have been upholding the thrones of political tyranny.

In no instance have they been seen as the guardians of the liberties of the people.

Rulers who wished to subvert the public liberty have found in the clergy convenient auxiliaries.

James Madison, American president and political theorist (1751-1836)

I was mortified and I was of there.

So those are the main facts and events that it took to shock me back into reality. Gradually I regained my ability to look at my group objectively for the first time and I was repulsed at what I saw. Understandably, I now look at all religions, ideologies and isms from an objective viewpoint and not one of: hoping it’s true, wishful thinking, blind faith or from a strong desire to simply belong.

Admittedly, mine was a rare and extreme experience and one that most will never experience, but this also means most followers of religion simply stay put within their cozy, blind faith religion company. I also hope that others will not have to experience what I did and this is why I feel so compelled to share my experience and awakening with you.

Over the following months and years I documented my findings in the form of my e-book, All The Emperor’s Men, plus several other related published articles. I shared my story in the media, via TV, radio, magazines and newspapers. As expected, I received a mixed response ranging from threats, verbal and written abuse to many more calls, letters and emails of support and gratitude from people who had also managed to escape the group and other religion companies. A recent Wikipedia entry claims that because of my efforts in exposing the group over half its western members have now deserted it although membership continues to grow in Japan and some poor developing countries.

When I finally made the big escape I was also concerned with filling the void in my life which my group had filled for all those years. I didn’t have to worry over this for too long since the vacuum caused by my escape gradually became filled with my efforts and enthusiasm to alert everyone to the dangers of this group and to urge all seekers – those with a void in their lives, and those caught within the religion industry to stand back and take a good objective look at themselves and their religion company. Research its origins – is it based upon provable, documented and tangible facts and not upon ancient fables or folk lore, or simply because someone says it’s true. Blind faith is a copout and never permissible. Check out its real aims, who are its leaders and where do its teachings come from. Claiming divine revelations is a sure giveaway and a sign of ultimate arrogance. If you were going to invest money in a company any sensible person would obtain corporate documentation and an accountant’s report first, so if you are going to invest your time, money and soul in a religion company doesn’t it make sense to do likewise? Is it selling a worthwhile product worthy of filling that void or could that void be filled with something better?

SO NOW WHAT SHOULD I BELIEVE IN?

This would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it.

John Adams, U.S. President, Founding Father of the United States

At the beginning of this essay I stated how I was open to the belief in god. I am not an atheist. I believe in a good life and a good life after death just as the famous Michelangelo stated: If life was found to be agreeable, then so should death be. It comes from the hand of the same master. But I am against the religion industry hijacking and stifling spiritual progress as this is what they do. This is a great disgrace and the greatest blight of all. Observe the turmoil in the Middle East. The religious and sectarian hatred amongst neighboring countries is now so deadly and out of control it’s threatening to escalate into a much broader conflict and nuclear weaponry could soon be utilized. We are witnessing arrogance so blind it sees only its self interest at the expense of everyone else. It’s the ultimate religion company insanity – it’s simply religion gone mad.

At the heart of this deadly game is a 4,000 year old highly disputed fable concerning a 170 years old man named Abraham from the land now known as Iraq. The fable relates how a god made a covenant with this mysterious person whereby the god said to Abraham that he and his descendants could have ownership over the land of Palestine as they are his chosen or favorite people. No deeds of ownership or any proof of this secret deal have ever been forthcoming and today the jews recklessly use this ancient 4,000 year old fable as giving legitimacy to their illegal occupation. How convenient, and soon we may all have to pay a heavy price for an ancient myth which has somehow found its way into today’s world as some kind of official authority for land ownership and genocide.

Recently on ABC-TV (April 9, 2012), during a religious panel debate, I was surprised to hear one of the panelists, Cardinal George Pell, the popes representative here in Australia, admit unambiguously when questioned, that Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden, etc, is all a myth (google it). He further admitted that humans probably evolved from Neanderthals. As a child I was taught that it was god who created us in his image.

According to Cardinal Pell, these infallible biblical stories are no more than myths. So, if there never was an Adam or an Eve, the originators of our original sin, I assume there never was or is such a thing as original sin which conveniently serves as the master thread that binds the judeo-christian religions, their sects and their followers together. All along it has been a man made construct. These now-busted myths suddenly make the crucifiction of Jesus unnecessary since we now learn that there never was original sin in the first place: the very reason why Jesus died on the cross to save us from it. How liberating!

Earlier, I mentioned how the state of Israel was also founded upon a dubious biblical tale which, in their eyes, justifies their supremacy and occupation of Palestine. Since the Adam and Eve story and the human creation story have now been confirmed as myths we should also assume the jewish-Israeli justifications also have their genesis in fanciful and self-serving myths. And shouldn’t we also view that cunning jewish construct, the omniscient, vindictive and almighty judeo-christian concept of god as simply another self-serving myth, too?

Eventually, we must all come to realise that the religion industry if founded solely upon the creation and sale of myths – and what convenient myths they have proven to be.

There will be no peace in the Middle East until the jews and others involved abandon their myth-based beliefs.

Similar to the above absurdity is Japan’s belief in being the cradle of humankind with its emperor still acknowledged as a divine being reigning over a divine or special people. Based upon ancient Japanese folk lore, Mt Fuji is described as the naval of the world – the most sacred place. The imperial seal of the emperor and the symbol of Japan is the sixteen pedaled chrysanthemum which symbolizes the sixteen different compass points which the ancient Japanese emperor sent his children into order to civilize the planet. The catch cry of the Japanese military during the 30’s and 40’s was All the world under one roof – meaning all the world ruled by a Japanese theocracy under emperor Hirohito. And they nearly succeeded if it wasn’t for the U.S. dropping nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Such extreme and horrendous action was required to distract the ruling elite and its militarists from such a deadly belief. The group I helped lead for fifteen years, and other sections of the Japanese population, still promote these deadly myth-based beliefs and more. The All the world under one roof war cry was ultimately responsible for the deaths of untold millions.

It’s the responsibility of each and every one of us to make our own efforts to live as harmonious as possible according to our situation and strive to expand our own concepts of the wonders of the cosmos. It’s one of the purposes for being here – to ponder, study, to feel awe, postulate and to share our ideas and understandings. This is not the responsibility of some rabbi, mullah, guru or preacher who claims he has it all figured out for you. It’s for you to discover. This is what the cosmos expects of you just as it also expected of you to feed and nourish you body, you must also toil to nourish your soul likewise. The cosmos and all its wonders are waiting for you. Fill your void with what the cosmos wants to give you directly according to your efforts. How can you have a void if it’s being filled to overflowing with such abundance?

At present there is not a single credible established religion in the world.
George Bernard Shaw, Irish-born English playwright (1856-1950)

Do spirits, life after death and reincarnation etc, exist? Probably, but you must go and discover these possibilities. This brief essay is not about my spiritual beliefs, it’s about my religion industry experiences. Nowadays, modern scientific research, together with proven and well-documented experiences are revealing all these possibilities and more. Scientists are postulating the existence of parallel universes, life on other planets and even a god particle. The Earth is no longer flat. Get on board and discover how it’s all unfolding. How can you have a void if you are on a path of such discovery? Realize that when that void has gone so too will the demand – and when the demand fades so too will the service providers – the religion purveyors.

I am aware that some readers will see my repetitive use of the phrases religion industry and religion company as somewhat provocative, but if you take time to examine their purposes, structures and aims as I have, you will come to see them as simply service providers creating and selling myths and at best, simple placebos. We have the void and they fill it with a variety of products – a simple case of supply and demand, and a very profitable tax exempt industry at that.

I’ve come to the awakening that you don’t even have to have any beliefs – isn’t it better to have a wholesome and inquisitive mind ever seeking that next piece of the cosmic jigsaw – forever seeking higher possibilities? There is a danger that beliefs can hold you to a specific point in time or in the distant past, but possibilities stretch on to eternity.

Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt,

tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.

For that matter, don’t they have lives?McCaffrey, D’Onta Foreman, , Hunt and even Jamaal or local product Corey .I’m sorry, but fraudulently obtaining a mortgage doesn’t really get goat the way, say, a serial rapist does.

It was obviously really cool.How quickly Bellows gets the puck off his stick with a flick of his wrist is simply outstanding.Thanks to obscure technicality MLB’s labor rules, Raines was banned from baseball for the first month of the 1987 .Hawley’s wives were such amazing women.They were getting chances, but we were playing well.The 6, 220-pounder is athletically the same class as former Clemson stars and and is a proven commodity with 57 receptions for 1 yards and six scores as a true sophomore 2014.

Today Ball Four has taken on another role–as a time capsule of life the sixties.Gulfstream Park Imperative rallied three-wide into the stretch Saturday’s $400 Poseidon Handicap and tracked down the favorite, , the final jumps to win by a head.LB is a PG building machineHaving a PG play out of position is never a good thing.Blues C Paul Stastny scored his 10th goal on Thursday, marking the 10th time his 11 seasons the NHL he has reached double digits.Additionally, expect Adolphus Washington and Jerel Worthy to increased defensive snaps the remainder of the .

I admittedly don’t share your belief that Colbert seldom misses.When he was a sophomore at State, Hogan suffered ankle injury that left him with a year of NCAA eligibility after he graduated.has two years left on his current contract and that seems like a good place to start when talking about his future.Churla had two goals and two assists 40 regular- .Hey, : When J.R.

Think back to the defensemen debates.They’ll say he could make more the 2016 draft, but they aren’t actually sure.As the start of the World Series approaches, fans can only hope to see a game packed with as much excitement as the one that took place 20 years ago today.I thought our secondary, with the exception of the last five minutes of the game where we were playing different coverage, I thought they played well.Speaking of responding to feedbackBank Of And The Automated Branch attempt to build banking and financial services products for literally everyone, Bank of is experimenting with a fully automated branch design.

He has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury.At the same time, workplaces are becoming increasingly casual and the formal two-piece suit with silk tie or blouse is no longer de rigueur, even conservative fields such as banking.this case only 42% of the observed drop across the board was seen the top players.Spaeth According to Colbert, Spaeth never recovered from his knee scope.

I was happy to go out there tonight, rain or shine, and just put some film on.- better player than the recently paid, injured and ineffective Mo Wilkerson.Here’s everything you need to know about the Swedish centre.

Cleveland 20.He has taken that to his new role coming off the bench.I think one of the ways that the arts and storytelling make and impact is to insist on complexity and insist on authenticity, said -Lyen Gardener backstage.
It incorporates the work of many stalwart baseball researchers, including Blau, Art Cantu, Frank Hamilton, Reed , , McConnell, Jack , and Ray Nemec, as well as members of the Minor Leagues Committee of the Society for American Baseball Research.after taking over from Hitchcock and the teams have a rematch Thursday night at the Air Canada Centre.The only people who didn’t like Bouton’s plan were the Mayor, the Mayor’s hand-picked Parks Commissioners, a majority of the City Council, the only daily newspaper, the city’s largest bank, it’s most powerful law firm, and a guy from General Electric.

To be at this point tonight sitting up here talking to you guys, like I said, it’s very emotional, said at the postgame podium:

Expect the rushing attack to be the centerpiece of the Broncos offense;

The Los Angeles D-Fenders won their 20th game today, they are now 20 after defeating the Texas Legends , 128;

The confidence.‘t worry: The Redskins know they what they must build, and maintain, around Cousins.

, he’s big, runs such good routes, that you just got to put it around him, make good plays, quarterback said.Rice had functional speed too.Two unworkable aspirations.Cam and Jonathan : While http://lionsshopnflofficials.com/ryan-broyles-jersey_c-417.html was the one to finish off two drives, it was encouraging to being used on designed runs near the end zone.DePasqua is Ryan Smith Womens Jersey music director and Michael is organist.It’s a lot of fun playing with those players.

All-American center at Pitt who helped his team to a 22 record over his junior and senior seasons, Grimm was selected by the Redskins the third round of the 1981 NFL Draft.topped the list above Babe and Muhammad — substantiating his link to those earlier cultural icons.What be his emotions watching his new teammates?Opinion Now that President Trump is charge, the external and internal threats to our country have increased.Nance finished Ryan Broyles Youth Jersey with 18 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three steals and even though the Lakers came up short the end, Nance’s presence was felt.

These guys want to do for their families and make their money, but ‘t come calling to the Hall of Fame when you know you cheated, said.With that said, it is his decision to make after all.>> PLAYERS VOTE FOR TEAM Freddie Hamilton Youth Jersey CAPTAINS I have this Samoan tattoo remembrance of mom, I just decided to add the because mother named me when I came out.We haven’t made those plays, but I think our coaches are doing a very good job of scheming that up.Senoir Snyder calls for a screen against visiting .
With regards to Mogilny not having quite the reputation, I think there are a number of factors.That is just our motive coming into the http://www.calgaryflamesofficialonline.com/Adidas-Freddie-Hamilton-Jersey game, Ford explained.A ball hit by Chicago White Sox’ Todd Frazier gets by Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado during the fourth inning of a baseball game,, 1, Baltimore.Interestingly enough, the Chicago Blackhawks have two players the top three.But with Carr coming back next year as a player still on the rise, Oakland is going to be a contender for years to come.

Please log, or sign up http://www.cardinalsnflofficialonlineshop.com/Brandon-Williams-Jersey for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading.On the Monday after Trump’s executive order to end refugee admissions and suspend the entry of citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries, California’s Legislature voted overwhelmingly to condemn his actions.Goalie is responsible for nearly half the fantasy categories most standard leagues, making it the most important position, and you can only two or three to remain competitive on the skater category side.

Who Dat Nation – what was your favorite New Orleans Saints player celebration?’s 16 17 – 52 Total Field Goal Percentage: Parkway 38, St.Chipul tău şi dragostea din tei -amintesc de ochii tăi.Prosecutors also said she had injuries consistent with a assault.

That feeling of ease is worth every the Ravens gave before the .It’s impressive debut, for sure – but how did he get there?It takes reps.-He’s tall, but not giant.

– the Panthers’ leading scorer with 21 points – helped the team take a commanding 52 lead.Stalling on Thompson.When one is at the edge of what they know Authentic Brandon Williams Jersey they only learn by taking steps beyond where answers are sure – they must make mistakes.must pass a series of drug tests before meeting with Goodell.

I’m not sure I want to make any of them 18-minute-a-game guys, Gundy said.Curry made 5-of-6 from this distance during warm-ups Monday Atlanta, but that wasn’t even the most remarkable thing.Secondly, the Sabres are locking up what they believe to be a first-line scoring center.

After taking the Cavaliers to their fourth straight NBA Finals, LeBron James has turned down his player option http://www.authenticmapleleafsstore.com/james-reimer-jersey_c-421.html worth $35.6 million next season to become an unrestricted free agent. There’s still a possibility LeBron will be on the Cavaliers next season — Cleveland can offer him a new contract worth more than $200 million over five years — but the four-time MVP will have the choice of joining a franchise in better position to compete for a title in free agency.
Just imagine teams trying to score against LeBron, Simmons and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Embiid on one end of the court. (Remember, the 76ers had the third-best defense in the NBA this season without LeBron.) Now imagine trying to slow down a trio of physically imposing players who are each comfortable breaking down mismatches with their http://www.officialbuccaneersnflstore.com/YOUTH+RYAN+SMITH+JERSEY backs to the basket on the other end of the court with two knockdown shooters spacing the floor for them.

Williams walked Austin Hedges and pinch-hitter Matt Szczur with one out in the fifth. They advanced on Travis Jankowski’s sacrifice bunt ahead of Myers’ big double.

I kind of lost my fastball command in that fifth inning, and I Ryan Smith Womens Jersey had to rely on my off-speed pitches, Williams said. I kind of put myself in bad situations. James Reimer Jersey Two walks in a row are tough. You can’t really defend walks. Wil Myers is a good hitter and he guessed right on a heater up, and did well.

Lucchesi (4-3) won for the first time since April 28. He was making his third start since missing five weeks with a strained right hip. The left-hander allowed one hit while striking out five and walking four.

The rest of the QB’s on the slate range from competent to rising stars to established stars to sure first-ballot Hall of Famers .There’s some things he does better than others and we’re going to try and put him good positions,” Mularkey said of Wright.He’s listed as questionable on the Oakland injury report, but is expected to play on Monday night.

I mean most people didn’t even realize how many other teams he was on before signing with the pistons.You ‘t know at what point it is going to all come together, because there’s just much with this position that you always have to learn from day to day.by Dave Jablonski, The Flyers picked up their 20th victory of the and their 98th the last four years, routing Saint Louis 85 on Tuesday at Chaifetz Arena.

2008 was a very good draft year for defensemen, but Calgary found a gem the later rounds.I had a plan to give some guys days off this week coming up but with all the off days coming up I had to change plan, Baker said.What happened between 2012 and 2013 to elevate the Saints defense to among the best the league?27 Kason Mims 1 01 vs.Sure enough, he started on the fourth line, worked his way up scored 20 goals.

Barnes didn’t take 16, because he knew he’d get a ton more – getting 24.When you go three and out, three and out, three and out, and you’re not converting on third down or you’re not giving yourself a chance to convert on third down because you’re on third and , it’s just tough, said.Nampa’s huge, grassy bowl – the Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater – host rockers Train, O.A.R.I’ve seen the room turn on a based on a really solid presentation.When David Wells pitched a perfect game for the Yankees 1998, heand Larsen spoke by phone about some of the other things they shared, includingan alma mater–Point High San –and enjoyment of New ‘safter-hours pleasures.

We’d love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind article.The Pro Bowl offensive linemen did suffer a stinger the opener against the New York Giants and missed five plays before returning.Harrisburg and followed that up with 3 hitless frames on 4 vs.They look sharp, have extra stretch and sweat protection, plus they feel great.

When training camps open around the league next month, the NFL wants teams to be mindful of the spike in preseason concussions last year.
The NFL found that preseason concussions were up 73 percent from 2016 and that most of them occurred in 11-on-11 drills conducted in practices ahead of the first preseason games. The league is sharing data about each team’s concussions from last year in hopes that it http://www.authenticnikegiantshop.com/Mark-Herzlich-Jersey will, per NFL executive vice president of health and safety initiatives Jeff Miller, inform what clubs do.

Brian Gutekunst was promoted to take over for Thompson while others in the personnel department left for jobs outside the organization. Team president Mark Murphy also tweaked the way the organization operates by having coach Mike McCarthy and Gutekunst report to him directly rather than having the coach report to the G.M.

In an interview with Rob Reischel of Forbes, Murphy offered an early review of how those changes are working out.

Well, we’ll see how things play out, Murphy said. But my hope was it would improve communication. And quite honestly, with a new General Manager, a first time General Manager, putting him in Mark Herzlich Youth Jersey a position where he can have success and really focus on the most important part of his job, which is the draft and acquiring players and determining the 90-man [roster] and the 53-man roster, I think it’s worked well so far.

Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst was considered a possible first-round pick before an irregular http://www.officialmarinersonline.com/authentic-51-ichiro-suzuki-jersey.html heartbeat was detected during a medical exam at the NFL Scouting Combine and questions about whether he’ll be able to have a long career in the NFL helped push him to the Raiders in the fifth round.
While he might not like where he wound up being drafted, Hurst likes the landing spot. He said that watched a lot of film of Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins while at Michigan and is excited to have a chance at filling a similar three-technique role with defensive coordinator Paul Guenther, who previously held the same job in Cincinnati.

Frankie Montas (R), rostered in 35.5 percent of ESPN leagues, Oakland Athletics at San Diego Padres: The right-hander has a mere 6.5 percent swinging-strike rate in his first four starts of the season. The Padres are in fine position to help Montas, though, as they have the second-highest strikeout rate (25.9 percent) against righties. Of course, Petco Park always boosts the outlook of any hurler.

When the interview period for prospective free agents opens this week, Tavares will meet with five teams, his agent Pat Brisson confirmed.

The 27-year-old Tavares said all season long that he wants to re-sign, but as we sit eight days away from the opening of the free agent market, he’s yet to agree to any deal. The Islanders can offer him an eight-year contract, while other NHL teams can only go as many as seven.

This is where I hope to be. I’ve always stated that, Tavares said in April. But obviously I have some time to think about my situation and go from there. I’ve loved it here and people have really embraced me, the team and organization have been first class since I’ve gotten here. Obviously, some great talent and some great things ahead. Definitely a lot of positives and I’ll have to take some time and figure out what I want to http://www.officialnetsproshop.com/authentic-24-rondae-hollisjefferson-jersey.html do and go from there.

What might give Ryan’s supporting cast a slight edge over Brees’ is his top tight end. As a third-round rookie in 2016, Austin Hooper caught 70 percent of the passes thrown his way. He then essentially doubled his reception and yardage totals as a sophomore and still managed to pull in 75 percent of his targets. Hooper just might be in for a breakout season in 2018, which would be unfair http://www.coyotesofficialauthenticshop.com/Jordan_Martinook_Jersey_Adidas if Ridley is also able to emerge as a rookie.
Six skill-position supporting cast members played major roles as Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Goff broke out in his sophomore season. All six were 25 years old or younger.

It Jordan Martinook Jersey starts with running back Kareem Hunt, who led the league with 1,327 rushing yards while scoring eight times as a rookie third-round pick in 2017.

Then there’s wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who has emerged as one of the most dangerous and versatile offensive weapons in the league and is coming off a season http://www.authenticthunderjersey.com/Patrick_Patterson_Jersey in which he and Smith-Schuster were the only qualified players in the league to average more than 15 yards per reception and catch more than 70 percent of the passes thrown their way.

Then there’s tight end Travis Kelce, who is coming off a third straight Pro Bowl nod, a second consecutive 1,000-plus-yard campaign and the fourth straight season in which he’s caught at least 68 percent of the passes thrown his way. The 28-year-old also scored eight touchdowns, bringing that trio’s total to 26.

The Yankees called Frazier up Monday, demoting infielder Ronald Torreyes, with regular left fielder Brett Gardner ‘s sore right knee still a problem. It’s kept Gardner out of the lineup since Sunday.

Cullen’s niece, Brianna Wristbridge, posted a photo of some texts she received from her aunt on Twitter, which leads to a whole thread about Cullen being overwhelmed by the Eagles gesture.

It actually runs deeper than them just giving her a ring too. According to McManus’ article, Cullen actually remained very close to Patrick Patterson Jersey the Eagles organization even after being fired. She typed up the team’s game plans for years and was a huge fan of the flea-flicker play. Doug Pederson, who played and coached under Andy Reid in Philly, texted with her about flea flickers prior to the NFC Championship Game and let her know the play was in the book against the Vikings.

The Orioles are visiting the south side of Chicago for a four-game set with the White Sox, but the possible future of Baltimore star Manny Machado with the north side’s Cubs was all the rage Monday.

As he’s done all season, Machado defected questions swirling around trade rumors and his impending free agency this offseason.

I go out there and play baseball. I’m not getting distracted by any of this, Machado told reporters. All these talks, rumors, they’re all rumors and talks. At the end of the day I got to go out there and perform and win games for this ballclub.

The Cubs are considered a favorite to land Machado if/when he changes uniforms. At 25-19 they trail the Brewers and Cardinals in the NL Central and haven’t gotten much production from 24-year-old shortstop Addison Russell, who is batting .262/.316/.404 with only one homer run and 10 RBIs in 41 games.

By effectively cutting ties with the veteran, the Red Sox will have to eat the more than $15 million Ramirez, 34, is owed for the rest of the 2018 season. But, as The Boston Globe noted, the Sox avoid a potentially awkward situation related to his $22 million vesting option for 2019 had he reached 497 plate appearances this year, which at his current pace — he has 195 — seemed all but assured if he remained in the lineup.

The situation is an odd turn in a season in which Ramirez began as a force in the middle of the AL East-leading Red Sox’s lineup. Proclaiming himself fit after offseason left-shoulder surgery, he slashed .330/.400/.474 with three homers in April. Things have fallen off since, and yet he ranks third on the team with 44 starts and has batted in the No. 3 spot in the lineup in 38 of the team’s 50 games.

Through 44 games, Ramirez is hitting .245/.313/.395.

In short, his continued struggles, which reminded the team of his problems in 2017 and back to 2015, left him vulnerable. His defense at first base couldn’t make up for his offensive liabilities, especially with former Gold Glover Mitch Moreland also available.

The Cardinals used the 10th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft on quarterback Josh Rosen, and reports out of minicamp suggested that he is showing all the talent the team thought he had. But that doesn’t mean he’ll start as a rookie.
Sam Bradford remains the Cardinals’ starter and the Cardinals’ website suggests that there’s really no competition at all in training camp: Bradford is the starter.

A: I would say first Womens Mike Smith Jersey is love guys hard and coach guys hard. Know I care about ’em, know that the whole thing is for them to play up to what their expectations are, not mine. Because if you’re playing up to my expectations, we don’t have a chance. If you’re playing up to your expectations, and they’re high Alan Page Authentic Jersey enough, then we’re gonna have a chance to play really good defense.

The lesson: Even Putin is popular here, so long as you’ve got your rubles on his favorite team.

All of the concerns, however, were for another day. Hundreds of people came to this old racetrack on a weekday morning to make a legal sports bet in New Jersey for the first time, and based on the reaction when those windows opened, they had waited a long time for the chance.

Governor Murphy made it out alive. Will his beloved Germany win the World Cup and make him a winner? Check the odds and get in line.

Took them five or six years of negligence to get here, and the neglect started at the top, with owner Jim Irsay pushing out Peyton Manning after the 2011 season because he wanted to draft Andrew Luck, the child http://www.nikeminnesotavikingstore.com/alan-page-jersey-for-sale-c-2.html prodigy from Stanford – and then gave that child prodigy a kindergarten teacher for a coach.